ABSTRACT: The demand for innovative plant-based probiotic beverages is growing rapidly. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a novel kefir beverage using two types of sesame milk: permeate-based sesame milk (PSM) and water-based sesame milk (WSM). Chemical, physical, microbial, and sensory properties of kefir were assessed. The total solids content (protein, fat, carbohydrates, and ash) in fresh kefir was 12.68, 13.31, and 16.38% for cow milk kefir (CMK), WSM kefir (WSMK), and PSM kefir (PSMK), respectively, and increased slightly after 14 days of storage, reaching 13.18, 13.53, and 16.56%. The fresh PSMK exhibited notable mineral content, containing (mg/100 g) 258.23 Ca, 137.14 P, 70.24 K, and smaller amounts of Na, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn, along with 5.18 μg/100 g of Se. In terms of volatile co
